As you look at the scriptures that unfold the Easter story we are struck by the angel and Jesus both telling Mary that she is looking in the wrong place. She was looking for the living among the dead. I wonder sometimes if we are not looking in the wrong place and we miss the Lord. Mary almost missed the Lord again when she turned and she thought he was a gardener. Now he did have his resurrection body so do not be too hard on her. The Lord opened her eyes so she could see who he was and her sorrow was broken because she saw the Lord. Let’s believe that the Lord will open our eyes so we can see life and if we are looking in the wrong place that he would tell us. I am sure all of us are ready to leave the graveyard and get into the beauty of what the Lord has for us.  Jesus told Mary to go tell his disciples because they were not in faith and were locked up in fear instead of being in joy.  Is it amazing how the Lord had taught and taught about his death, burial and resurrection and the disciples could not believe for the word to manifest itself? The Lord’s great love moved him to visit his disciples and open their eyes so they could see the truth? Once again that is what we need the Lord to do for us. How many times have we heard that the Lord will meet our needs according to his riches in glory and we are looking in the economy or our job which is not the true life and we are not looking to the Lord? We need the Lord to visit us by His Spirit and bring us revelation of His word so we can stand strong in faith and patience. We will rejoice and tell others of our testimony of his resurrection power in our lives. That is why we need to pray Ephesians 1:17, 18 which states that he will open the eyes of our understanding so that we might know the riches of our inheritance. Do not look in the grave yard of the world for life but look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. We are looking for the living and his name is Jesus

(1 Cor 4:20 NASB)  For the kingdom of God does not consist in words, but in power.

This scripture is a word to all of us. It simply reminds us that just talking a good game is not enough but there should be power in our lives. We can talk about healing which is good but we also want to have healing for us and people in my circle of influence. We can talk about God being my Provider but those watching my lives need to see the Lord Providing for me. In Luke 5 Jesus not only said He could forgive the man’s sin but He showed that He did by telling the man to take up his bed and walk and he did. This was a demonstration for everyone to see what happens when sins are forgiven. What a great reflection of the heart of God that Jesus demonstrated. The Lord wants us to demonstrate the same thing. We want to show people in the word that Jesus is a Healer and then pray for them and expect His healing power to change there circumstance.

Paul talks about the fact we are letters that everyone can read. We need to give the world some more reading material as they watch our lives. The writing of the Goodness of God should be all over us. Our lives need to make people so curious about the Goodness of the Lord that they are open to us telling them. Not just words but also power! In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul states that he wants people to follow his example as he follows Christ. Isn’t that your heart just like it is mine? We want the grace of God to be so evident in our lives that people are standing in line to ask about all that is taking place and of course we will tell them this is Christ working in my life and He will do the same for you if you ask.  Let’s agree together that the Lord power will be constantly displayed for all to see. Miracles will be normal not abnormal. People will be so excited about the outpouring of the Lord’s Goodness that this whole city will be turned right side up!

As you read about the Children of Israel coming out of Egypt you are struck by many things. First of all you see the mighty hand of God orchestrating the release. God performed ten miracles that demonstrated His great power and His willingness to get involved with His people. Seven out of the ten plagues the children of Israel were sparred showing there is a difference between the people of God and the people of the world. Then they were able to get all the gold and silver and goods from their neighbors by just asking for it. That may be the biggest miracle of them all.

As they are going out the Lord does not lead them in the shortest path because He is afraid that if they go that way they will have to go to war and they will turn back to Egypt in fear. This shows that they were not fully persuaded that the Lord, who just performed all those miracles, was able to deliver again. This is a very important concept that is demonstrated. Just because you have a miracle done by the grace of God or see one done by the grace of God doesn’t mean that you have a change of mind which will cause a change of behavior. The children of Israel were still slaves in their minds and believed that the Philistines, which were a lot less powerful than the Egyptians, would defeat them. They were not able to transfer a victory to the next battle.   

Most of us remember that Israelites experienced another great miracle when they went through the Red Sea and saw the Egyptians destroyed before their very eyes but were not able to have the confidence in God to take a lesser enemy in the promise land. What was their problem? The answer is the same as ours. They did not renew their mind and God was not able to change their mind. You might have to read that statement again. God was not able to change their mind. He wanted to have them go into the land He promised but they would not cooperate. He came on Mount Sinai to give them the word that would renew their mind. They rejected the word which stopped the power of God from changing them from a slave to a freeman. They were free physically but not mentally, so consequently they died a slave in their wilderness because of their mind set.

What can I learn from this? I need to meditate the word, read the word, and study the word. The word needs to be a life source for me. That is the only way I will be set free from the slavery of sin and have my mind transformed which will allow me to choose the freedom Christ has purchased for me. Get into the word and see what promise land the enemy is keeping from you.  Go in the power of His Word and drive out the enemy and receive your land that is flowing with milk and honey. You are free and no longer a slave, so enjoy your freedom.   

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